Skate.



A, 3-, KENNEDY SKATE APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907.

Patented May 25, 1909.

A. J. KENNEDY.

SKATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907.

a j fiw. Patented m 25, 1909;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

UNITED STATES ATSET am ANDREW J. KENNEDY, or cHIcAco, ILLINOIS.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Application filed August 12, 1907. Serial No. 388,167.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. KENNEDY,

" a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skates, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to skates, and pertains more especially, although not exclusively, to roller skates.

One feature of the invention relates to a new and im ro'ved form-and structure of ers, or ice skates having double runners.

Another feature of the invention resides in a new and improved yieldable support for the axles of the wheels or rollers adapted to ermit a slight leaning movenipnt of the w eel relatively to its supporting frame to facilitate travel around curves.

Another feature of the invention resides in brace the rear portion of the leg of the the revision of a new and improvedbrake meciianism automatically actuated by the wearer when assuming a position favorable to arrest further travel, the brake mechanism being automatically applied by'an angular movement of the leg above theankle.

' The invention will be readily understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical mechanical embodiment thereof, and in which,;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the com lete skate shown'as applied to the foot and ower leg portion of the wearer. Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the skate, more particularly illustrating the form and charac- 1 improved ankle-brace. Fig. 3 is a ter of view and on an enlarged scale l sectlona a'n entirety a skeleton frame for the skate consisting of duplicate side members, between and on whlch are supported the heelplate 11 and toe-plate 12, which latteizmay be formed integral with or suitably secured tothe main frame.

13 and 14 designate, respectively, single front and rear wheels or rollers that are ournaled by means and in a manner more particularly described between the front and rear depending forks of the skate-frame. and in the longitudinal median plane of the skate, as best shown in Fig. 2. Each of these wheels, which are of relatively large size as compared with the wheels or rollers 'ordinarilyem loyed on skates of this character, is prefera ly equipped with a rubber tire 15, the Weband hub of the wheels being conveniently formed of suitable stamped metal diskswhich may be solider of skeleton form as preferred.

Referring now to the improved ankle brace constituting a leading feature of,my invention, this member is designated as an entirety by-16 and preferabl and as here-' in shown, consists of a sing e or one- )iece sheet metal stamping of suflicient thic ness to possess the required rigidity, comprisin an approximately semi-circular horizonta strap. 16" at its upper endadapted to emwearer slightly above the ankle or approximately at the base of the calf, and a rigid depending member 16 connected with the upper strap 16 by inclined branches 16 and having depending oppositely inclined limbs or branches 1.6 that are pivoted at 17 to the upper ends of the skate-frame on 5 either side of the latter and at points substantially opposite the ankle of the wearer.

.T he central transversely extending portion l of the brace-member 16 is concave on its .1111161 side to fit the convex rear portion of l the leg; and the inclined arms or branches 16" and 16 lie obliquely across the opposite sides of the leg as shown. To the front edges of the upper collar or strap 16 are i riveted or otherwise secured short leather through one of the journals of the Wheels. 5 Fig. 4 is a-detail plan view of a sheet metal lacing 19 or other suitable means, whereby blank from which the housing of each end journal of the wheels is made.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates as 5 the brace is securely applied or attached to straps 18, the'forward edges of which maybe united, when the skate is applied, by a the leg of the wearer.

sides of,,the skate-frame and at their upper ends secured to the leg of the wearer. In such cases, the two side-braces "being independent of each other, little or no lateral rigidity is afforded.

It will be observed as a dlstinguishing characteristic of my improved ankle-brace that the two sidesthcreof are rigidly united behind the leg either by making the brace from a single stamping, as indicated, or rigidly connecting the two sides, so that the two sides are mutually braced through the intervenin transverse connections against any latera' yield or bend relatively to the skate-frame, andihcnco the ventire leg from the lower calf portion to the foot is supported against transverse bend at the ankle while at the same time the free forward and rear bend at the ankle is permitted.

Referring next to my improved manner and means of mounting the wheels of the skate inthe frame whereby the wheel nmy lean laterally to adapt itself to the desired direction of movement, and .more particularly considering Figs. 3 and4 of the drawings wherein the details thereof are shown,

. 20 may designate the hub of the wheel in 24. Each of which are formed suitable race-ways for ball bearings 21. 22 designates the axle that extends through the hub preferably in engagement with a hard metal sleeve or bushing The lower ends of the forks of the skateframe indicated by 10 are longitudimrlly slotted from their-lower ends upwardl Y to a sufficient distance to receive bearing-blocks these bearing-blocks has fori'ncdon its inner edge, which enters the hub' 20 of the wheel, a suitable race-way engaged by the ball-bearings 21, and one of said bearing-blocks preferably has a screwthreaded engagement with the axle 22 where-' by adjustment of thc ball-bearings may be readily effected. The opposite sides of the bearing-blocks 24 are reccssedor grooved to a sufficient extent to admit the block within the slot of the fork, and said grooves are widened on both sides of the center of the side walls thereof, thereby forming rockingbearings indicated at 25, which permit a tiping or angular movement of the axle and caring-block to a limited extent. to the outer sides of and beneath the forks 10 of the frame are brackets through which the weight is transmitted to the bearing- So far as I am" Secured blocks and axle, which brackets also constitute the housings for the ends of the bearing-blocks and the superposed means, hereinafter described, for permitting a tipping or angular movement of the axle and restoring it to normal position. Each of these brackets or housings is referablymade from a single sheet metal lank of the form shown in Fi 4, the same consisting of a main body 26, a eaf 27 thereabove, a central tongue 28 and side tongues 29- ab0vefsaid leaf 27, a narrow leaf 30 below the leaf 26, another narrow leaf 31 below the leaf 30, and side wings 32 on either edge of the body 26. This 'blank is cut and bent to form the complete housing as follows. The tongues 29 are sep arated on vertical lines from the central tongue 28, which latter is bentdown beneath and parallel with the leaf 27, the leaf 27 is then bent at right angles to the body 26, and the outer tongues 29 are bent upwardly tobe secured to the side of the'fork 10, as shown in Fig. 3. The central tongue 28 and leaf 27 are provided with registering apertures that are internally threaded to receive an adjusting device in the form of a screw-threaded pin33. The body 26 is bent on a substantially central transverse line. to form a lower inclined portion 26 of the housing, the leaf 3() is bent to horizontal position to lie directly beneath the-lower end of the fork, and the lower leaf 3] is bent upwardly to engage behind the lower end of the fork, thereby securing the housing to the fork at its-lower The side wings 32 are then bent at right angles to the body 26 to form the side walls of the housing and com lete the inclosing-of the contained parts. he bearingblocks 24 have outwardly )rojectingflanges 24-", above which and wit iin the housings are mounted yieldable resilient elements which may be ordinary compressionsprings,

but preferably consist of blocks of rubber 33". Thin metal wearing plates 34 and 35 are preferably interposed between the lower and upper faces of the rubber blocks and the flangcs24 and adjusting screw-pins 33, respectively. From the foregoil'ig it will be seen that the weight of the wearer is trans mitted from the fork to the axle through the brackets or housings, the screw pins, the rubber-blocks, and the bearing-blocks. By virtually hooking the lower ends of the brackets or housings bcncatlgthe lower ends of the fork, as shown, the strain on the upper connections of the bracket to the fork, is

largely relicvcd; and by reason of the fact that the slots of the fork extend inwardly beyond the upper sides of the bearing-blocks, as indicated in Fig. 1, the wheel and its axle are free, under lateral strain, to tip or-i-nclinc in either direction as may be require by the movement of the operator, the rubber blocks 33 yielding to permit the same and automatically restoring the wheel to normal posiiii tion when the foot 'is raised or restored to vertical position.

In connection with the above-described skate l have provided a "simple and economical form of brake mechanism enabling the wearer to arrest further movement upon assuming a certain position of the lower limbs. Mei-ring thereto, 36 designates a brakeshoe herein shown as applied to the rear wheel, the same being pivoted between the sides of the frame substantially opposite the heel-plate. The brake-shoe has upwardl extending arms 37, the upper ends of whicli are' connected to depending extensions 16 of the ankle-brace by pivoted links 3 In the arrangement of mechanism shown in Fig. 1 it will be seen that the rearward inclination of the leg above the ankle will apply the brake-shoe to the rear wheel. The wearer, in assuming a position favorable for stopping without danger of fa lling headlong from acquired momentum, naturally throws .one foot in advance of the other, bending the lower portion of the forward leg rearwardly and the lower portion of the rear leg forwardly. Consequently, on the other skate the brake-shoe 36 will incline rearwardly or on the opposite side of the pivot so that it will be applied under a forward bending movement of the leg of the wearer.

Froi-n-the foregoing it will be seen that my invention provldes a simple, strong, durable,

and easily operated article of the character described. The frame and brace parts can readllybe made from metal stampmgs, thus wmduci-ng to the economy of the device,

and the lateral rigidity afforded to the ankle of 'the wearer by the rigid ankle-brace conduces to the comfort and case w ith which the skate may be worn and operated.

it will be evident to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications in respect to minor details of structure may be made without departing from the substance or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention; and hence I do not limitthe latter to the particular construction disclosed, ex cept to the extent clearly indicatedin specific claims.

I claim;

1. The combination with a skate having a pair of side-frame members, of an anklebrace pivoted to said side-frame members and adapted to partially embracethe leg of the wearer, said ankle-brace being transversely rigid relatively to said side-frame members, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a skate having a pair o'f side-frame members, of a rigid onepiece ankle-brace pivoted to said side-fral'ne members and adapted to partially embrace the leg of the wearer, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a skate having a pair of side-frame members, of a' tIfHISVGlSBlY i rigid ankle-brace having a portion adapted l to partially embrace the leg of the wearer and depending'extensions lying on opposite sides of the leg and pivotally connected to said side-frame members, substantially as described.

pair of side-frame members, of an ankle,- irace comprising an upper portion adapted to partially embrace the leg of the wearer, depending extensions lying on opposite sides side-frame members, and a transversely disposed portion connecting said depending eX-- tensions, all of said parts being rigidly joined together, substantially as described.

5. in awheeled skate, the combination said fork, springs supported on the projecting ends of said axle, and brackets secured to the sides of said fork and bearing on said springs, substantially as described.

6. In a wheeled skate, the combination with a longitudinally slotted fork, of a wheel having an axle projecting througl'i the slots of said fork, bearing blocks n'iounted on the ends of said axle and having rocking bearings engaging the slotted sides of said fork, springs bearing on said bearing blocks, and brackets secured to the sides of said fork and bearing on said springs, substantially as de' scribed.

7. ln a wheeled skate, the combination with a lon'git udinally slotted fork, of a Wheel having an axle projecting through the slots of said fork, bearing-blocks mounted onthe ends of said axle and having rocking bearings engaging the slotted sides of said fork, springs bearing on said bearing blocks, brackets secured to thev sides of said fork, and screwthrcadcd pinsnnomited in said brackets and engaging said springs, substantially as described. I

8. in a wheeled skate, the combination with a longitmlim'illy slotted fork, of a wheel of said fork, bearing blocks mounted on the ends of said axle in the slotted sides of said fork and having rocking bearings engaging said slotted sides of the fork, rubber-blocks suppprtcd on said bmring-blocks, brackets secured to the sides and lower ends of said fork and inclosing said rul'iber-blocks and the projecting ends of said bearing blocks and axle, and screw-thrcaded pins mounted in said .bracl'tets a nd. engaging said rubberblocks, substantially as described.

9. [n "a wheeled skate, the combination with the skate frame, of a brake-lever for one of the wheels pivoted on said frame, an ankle-brace also pivoted on said frame, an,

arm carried by said ankle-brace, and a link &

lun'ingnn axle projecting through the slots- 4. The combination with a skate havim a of the leg and pivotally connected to said j with a longitudinally slotted fork, of a wheel having an axle projecting through the slots of snide-bruise in one direction applies the brake and in the ep'pusitie direction releases the brake, substantially us described.

10. In a wheeled skate, Llie emnhination with the skate frame, of n brake-lever for one '(ri' the WilO-Oir; pivoted on saidfrm11e, an ankle-brace pivoted to the upper ends of the sides of said frame, an arm rigid with said ankle-brace and de ending below the pivotal point thereof, an a rigid link Eivotally '1) oined at its erTds to said arm and rake-10 i ver,'respectively, substantially as described.

. ANDREW J. KENNEDY.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. PON FREDERICK O. GOODWI-N. 

